Peter Patrick, Lord Hemphill, ex-MFH
Peter Patrick, the Fifth Baron Hemphill, passed away on Friday, April 6, 2012 at the Galway Clinic after a short illness. He and his wife Lady Anne Hemphill are well-known to many North American sportsmen and women who have hunted with the Galway Blazers. His father, the Fourth Baron, married his mother Emily Sears in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
Lord Hemphill was an exceptional individual—charming, entertaining, and a great friend to the Galway Blazers where he served as Joint-Master in the heyday of hunting in Ireland. He made his estate, Tulira Castle, regularly available to the hunt. American film director John Huston was a fellow Joint-Master when he lived at St Clerans not far from Athenry. The two men hunted and socialised together with their respective wives, Toni and Lady Anne, the latter serving as Field Master of the Blazers for many years. They all sailed frequently in Galway Bay with many of the prominent visiting Hollywood film stars, often visiting the Aran Islands where a sing-song was always on the agenda at a local hostelry!
Peyton “Skip” Cochran, ex-MFH, Dead at Eighty-Five
Peyton Skipwith Cochran, Jr., ex-MFH of the Green Spring Valley Hunt (MD) died Thursday, March 1, 2012 of complications from Altzheimer’s and a stroke. He was eighty-five. Skip Cochran was active in foxhunting and steeplechasing. He was a director of the MFHA for the Maryland-Delaware District and a partner in Arcadia Stable, owner of the […]
Don Little, Myopia MFH, Dead of Injuries Sustained in Show Jumping Accident
Donald V. Little, MFH of the Myopia Hunt in Hamilton, Massachusetts, died on February 29, 2012, three days after a fall from his horse while competing in the Masters Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Don was in his seventies—an all-around sportsman with interests in foxhunting, polo, show jumping, Thoroughbred racing, and […]
Don Little, Myopia MFH, Dead of Injuries Sustained in Show Jumping Accident
Michele Doucette photoDonald V. Little, MFH of the Myopia Hunt in Hamilton, Massachusetts, died on February 29, 2012, three days after a fall from his horse while competing in the Masters Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.
Don was in his seventies—an all-around sportsman with interests in foxhunting, polo, show jumping, Thoroughbred racing, and sailing. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he lived most of his life on Boston’s North Shore, foxhunting and playing polo at the Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton. He also enjoyed hunting with the Piedmont Fox Hounds in Virginia—a hunt with close family ties to Myopia.
Who Is This?
This gentleman’s portrait along with the question of his identity was posted on our Facebook page to provide an entertaining and informative way of featuring iconic figures in American foxhunting. We had some respectable guesses, but no one came up with the correct answer!
Meet A. Henry Higginson, MFH!
Sandy Beall Is New Joint-MFH at Tennessee Valley
The Masters and Hunt Committee of the Tennessee Valley Hunt (TN) have announced the appointment of Samuel “Sandy” Beall as Joint-Master of Foxhounds. Beall is founder and CEO of Ruby Tuesday, and his wife Kreis is founder of Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee. A Relais and Cheateau Resort, Blackberry Farm hosts hunting at the Three […]
Dr. Richard Patton Is New MFH at Caza Ladron
The Caza Ladron Hunt (NM) has announced the appointment of Richard S. Patton, Ph.D. as Joint-Master of Foxhounds. Dr. Patton is the former president of the hunt. According to hunt president Nancy Ambrosiano, Dr. Patton has been a staunch supporter of the hunt, people, hounds, and territory over the years. Patton is an animal nutritionist. […]
James J. Culleton, MFH
judy ciliberto photoJames J. Culleton, MFH of the Reedy Creek Hounds passed away on Friday, April 8 at his home, Reedy Creek Farm, in McKenney, Virginia. Culleton was born in Brooklyn, New York, pursued a career in the New York City Public School System, and also owned and operated a riding school and hack stable […]
Essential Information
Not long after my wife and I moved to Clarke County, Virginia, a new rector was hired by the Episcopal Church in Millwood. He was taken aside by one of the old, established landowners who wanted to help him acclimate to his new surroundings.
“You are a very important personage in the community,” said the landowner helpfully, “but do you know who is the most important?”
“No, who?” asked the rector.
“The Master of Foxhounds,” said the landowner.
In the light of the importance of rank and the start of a new social season, FHL thought that we should provide hosts and hostesses with some helpful advice on correct seating arrangements for your next dinner party.
The Foxhound’s Back: Curved or Straight?
“I have a question about foxhound conformation,” writes Kelly Bryant who has hunted with the Mill Creek Hunt in Illinois. “I have noticed that in the hound show galleries, some winners have a level back and some have a curved back. How does the back relate to the performance of the hound, and what difference does a level or curved back make? Which is preferred?”
These are excellent questions, and, as we have noted before, there are no right and wrong answers—only opinions and cautions. A wheel back is desirable to many breeders and judges of modern foxhounds, but a roach back is—most will agree—a weakness.